Rafa rewarded for fine form

14 November 2008 03:40

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Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has been rewarded for his side's excellent recent performances by being named Barclays Manager of the Month for October.
The Reds won four successive Premier League matches during the month as they moved to the top of the table.
Three-point hauls against Manchester City, Wigan Athletic, Chelsea and Portsmouth maintained Liverpool's unbeaten start to the campaign which was finally ended by Tottenham earlier this month.
"I am really pleased to receive this on behalf of my staff because they are doing very well - people like Sammy Lee, Mauricio Pellegrino, Xavi Valero and Paco Di Miguel," Bentiez told the club's official website.
"It's important for the staff and it's important because it means the team is playing well - you can't win Manager of the Month unless the team is winning.
"It means the club is in a good position. Hopefully we can receive more awards like this because it means we'll be in a good position at the end of the season."
Meanwhile, Philipp Degen has been ruled out of action for the next month after picking up a foot injury in the Carling Cup defeat at Tottenham.
"It's a pity for Philipp because he hasn't had much luck with injuries so far, but hopefully he can come back from this problem quickly," added Benitez.
"It's always a problem when you have two players for a position and one of them gets injured, and even more of a problem when the other player is suspended for a game - like Alvaro is this weekend.
"But we have options within the squad and we'll have to decide what we want to do for the game at Bolton."